Cedar garden room with hidden store
A 5m × 6m cedar room in Sevenoaks with a store hidden behind it, reached through a door matched to the cladding.
Incorporating a storage shed into a garden room building is a popular choice these days. In most designs, the main room and storage shed sit side by side, typically accessed via doors on the front elevation.
However, you’re not limited to having the two rooms side by side. If you have the space, you could position the storage room behind the main living room. This option creates a hidden room-completely concealed from the front of the building.
This recent project by Ark Design Build is a fine example. From the front, there’s no indication of the storage room behind. The storage room is accessed via a ‘secret door’ at the far end of the left-hand wall, carefully matched to the Cedar wall cladding, making it almost invisible at first glance.
Built in Sevenoaks, Kent, the building has an overall footprint of 5m x 6m. The key feature of the main room is the 4m-wide, triple-leaf sliding doors, which create a fully glazed front wall. A full-height window on the left-hand wall cleverly wraps the glazing around the corner.
A shallow hood detail frames the sliding doors and allows for LED downlights to be fitted above, creating a stunning curtain of light at night along the front of the building.
At a glance
- Size: 5m × 6m overall.
- Built for: Relaxing and entertaining, with a kitchen area and wine store.
- Construction: The store sits behind the main room, out of sight from the front.
- Finishes: Cedar with 4m triple sliding doors and a light grey composite deck; plaster inside, OSB in the store.
- Company: Ark Design Build, who also built the bench and log store.
High-spec interior finishes
Inside, the room has a light, modern finish. The walls and ceiling have been plastered and decorated, providing a high-spec finish comparable to a new-build house. The room is fully wired with stylish brushed steel sockets and switches installed by the Ark team.
The highly insulated building features a modern, slimline electric wall heater. The owners plan to add a wood burner in the future, which will make a lovely addition. However, this task must be completed by a registered wood burner installer to comply with Building Regulations.
Practical storage room
While the main room has a high-spec plastered and decorated interior, the storage room is more practical. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all finished with OSB boards-a durable and strong material perfect for hanging shelves or tools.
LED downlights have been fitted in the ceiling, and power sockets have been installed above the custom bench area.
Bespoke design features complete the project
Ark Design Build are bespoke design specialists, crafting buildings around individual customer needs. Their service includes attention to small design details that complete the project.
For this project, the Ark Design Build team built a custom bench in the storage room, created a small Cedar wood store, and fitted a kitchen area in the main room, complete with a wine store to enhance the space for entertaining.
Large composite deck
A large light-grey composite deck has been installed at the front of the building, extending the inside-outside feel of the room when the doors are opened.
Composite decking has become a popular choice in garden room design, as it retains its colour and doesn’t become slippery like timber decking. Composite decking comes in a range of colours, and shades of grey look particularly striking against the natural beauty of Cedar cladding.
Learn more about Ark Design Build
Learn more about Ark Design Build’s work. Chat with the Ark Design Build team on 07896 196 718 or send them an email at contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. Explore www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk to see more examples of their work.
